Postmarking and canceling machine.



No. 848,558. PATENTED MAR. 26, 1907.

N. A. KRAG & G. A. HANSEN. POSTMARKING AND CANGELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0013. 1905.

2 SHEETSSHBBT 1.

Fig. 1.

4 as? L In; (/62 0,10 715 jg am map 40/ M mlurddmj #a/m 1No. 848,558) U PATENTED MAR. 26, 1907. N. A. KRAG & GJA. HANSEN.

POSTMARKING AND GANOELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.3, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET -2.

g A? 1 ,2 11 5 W I so that they,

p arm rom lilhllirni t it one in i NILS .AALL KRAG AND GUSTAV AllOLl? HANSEN, 0F CHRISTIANIA, NORWAY.

(ENE AND itidifibl Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented. March 26, 19%? To all whom it W209i, concern.-

Be it known that we, Nrrs AALL KRAG and GUSTAV ADOLF HANSEN, subjects of. Norway, both residing at Christiania, Norway, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Postmarliing or. fianceling Machines; and we do hereby declare the fol. lowing to be Full, clear, and exact descri tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to'which it anpertains to make and use the same, rcfcirnce being had to the accompanying drawings,

and to letters or figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this speciiica-- tron.

This invention relates to a postmarking or canceling machine, and more especially to that type of machine in which the letters are fed to the stamping-die by means of a fee lroller exerting a pulling action on the letters, so to say, are haulec out from the magazine or feed-trough.

The object of the present invention is'to provide means whereby the letters are fed to the stamping device in such way that the stamp is placed in the same position on all letters-that is to say, the same distance from one end of the letters whether they are long or short.-

The invention'also provides for a simplification of machines which a fee l-roller on a separate shaft placed. in iront of the stamping-roller by doing away with one roller.

The invention further provides an improved arrangement for pressing the letters into contact with the stamp or die to prevent ink from being carried over from the stamp onto the pressure-roll and from the latter onto the back of the letters.

The invention further comprises a duplex machine, and a very important feature oi the machine consists in the means employed for feeding the letters so that the forward edge of each letter shall always have one and the same position relatively to the iced-roll and stampingnie.

In the accom anying drawings, Figurel is a plan view 0 a duplexqnachine embodying the-invention, showing the general arrangement. Fig. 2 is a top view, and Fig. 3 a vertical axial section, of the combined feed and stamping roller. Fig. 4; is a top view and partial horizontal section of the feeding and stamping mechanism. Fig. 4* is a dia- 1 gram showing the cooperation of the stamping-roller and the two pre ssure-rollers; and 5 is an elevation of the stamping and feeding mechanism, parts in vertical section.

The combined feeding and printing device comprises a roller 1 and two parallel disks 2 2 fixed. on a shaft which latter is rotated by any suitable means. By the construction and operation oi this device two stacks of let ere may be fed thereto simultaneously, and for this purpose two magazines or feedti oughs ii. A are mounted so as to feed the in ters from opposite directions, and the letters in the trough travel in a direction transverse to the plane of the letters' These troughs are preferably inclined so that the operated weight B, sided in a slot 0 in the bottom of the trough. A. vertical guide-wall a on one side of the trough stands in such relation to the roller 1 that its lower end terminates near the periphery of the roller and ate point in the roar of its diameter drawnparallel to the guide-wall.

Means are nrovided to taper the endof the the roller and consists of a finger C, having a curved face 0, 'nst which the letters are carried by friction as they pass the end of the guide-wall c. This finger is carried on a rod a, mounted in bearings a on the guide-wall c, and. is resiliently pressed toward the periphery of the roller by means of a spring d, surrounding the rods and abutting against a collar 0 thereon and against one of the hearings (L The forward. movement of the rod is limited by the collar 0 abutting against the forward bearing (1 and the collar is so positioned in relation to the end of the finger that the latter is not permitted to come into contact with the periphery of the roller, but is held very close thereto.

An idle roller D is centrally mounted at the lower end of the feed-trough and forms a central abutment for the let s therein. This roller in no way assists in .eding the letters from the trough, the feeding being accomplished entirely by the disks 2 The size of the latter is such that their circumference is somewhat greater than the length of the longest letter to be to the machine. Oniy a small portion of the disks is provided with Dripping-surfaces adapted to feed or pull the letters from the trough. The re showing some of the letters are fed forward by means of a gravitystack of letters before coming in contact with maining portion serves sim )ly as an abutment for the tapered end ot the stack, this remaining portion being constructed, preterably, of polished steel. Consequently one letter only is feed or pulled from each trough at each rotation of the roll.

The gripping device is preferably made adjustable to allow for wear. It consists of two plates 3 3, mounted in sea-ts formed in the upper and lower faces of the roller 1 and are held together by boltsd, passing through slots 4 in the roller on each sideof said seats. The OULUI GKlgtS of these plates conform to the periphery of the disks 2 2, which are also recessed to receive them. A strip 6 of indiarubber is preferably mounted on the outer edges of said plates to insure an ellicient gripping-face. central bolt 5, passing through the inner edges of the plates 3, projects through a concentric slot 8, formed in a disk 7, mounted eccentrically on the shaft 0, and by turning this disk the plate will be moved inwardly or outwardly, as desired.

A stamping or canceling die 9 is preferably mounted in any suitable manner between the two plates 3 3.

Two teed-disks 11 are mounted at opposite poirits and alongside each resilient finger 'U and engage both the upper and lower disks 2 on the roller 1, said disks 11 being also provided with indie-rubber working edges. Each of these disks is, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, mounted to treelyrotate in a forked holder 10, which latter is mounted on one end of a hollow rod 15, longitmliimlly movable in a bearing 16. A portion of the rod 15 is reduced, forming a shoulder 15, and this reduced portion is surrounded by a spring 17, which abuts against said shoulder and against a shoulder 10 at the end oi the bearing. The rod projects through the bearing and carries a. thumb-nut 19, by means of which the tension of the spring 17 may be. adjusted for the purpose of regulating the pressure of the disks 11 against the disks 2 2.

\Vithin the hollow rod 15 is mounted a. lon-' gitudinal and independently-movable rod 14,

which carries a support consisting of two horizontal parallel arms 1;) 13, each of which carries a vertically-mounted spindle 13 of a pressure-roller 12. A portion of the rod 14 is reduced, forming a shoulder H, and this reducedv ortion is surrounded by a spring 18, which a )uts against said shoulder 1 1 and the thumb-nut 19. The rod 14 projects through the thumb-nut 19 and has a nut 20 thereon, by means of which Jhe tension of the. spring 18 is adjusted.

The rollers 1'2 12 do not contact with the face of the stamping-die, the nut 20 being so adjusted as to hold the rollers at a certain distance away from said face-say one thirtysecond of an inch. No ink is therefore carried over fronrthe stamping-die onto these gripping-surf aces.

ressurc-rollers The latter will, nevertheess, press the letters close against the stamp, ing-face of the die, because they will cause the letters to be bent around the roller 1 when passing between the three rollers, as shown in the diagram Fig. 4

Inkingq'ollcrs 21 21 are mounted opposite one another and are of such length as to come between the disks 2 2" and will therefore come in contact with the stamping-die lonly, thus preventing the disks from being inked.

The operation oi the machine is as follows: The letters (designated by 2'2) are fed along the troughs A A by the weights B, the abut ments Darresting their progress past the desired point, and the forward edge of the first v letter in each stack will abut against the periphery ol the disks 2 2 and remain there until the gripping-plates 3 3 arrive at the point shown in Fig. 1. The rubber strips 6 will now grip the first letter and carry it along a short distance, when it is engaged by the pr "sure-rolls 12 1'3 and pressed into contact with the printing-die .1 directly under the i The two disks 11 11 cooperatowith the strips 6 (3 and also with the disks 2 2 on the roller 1 and insure the passage of the letters into the assembling-screws 23. which operate in the well-known manner. The friction between the letters will cause those near the end of the stack in the feedtrongh to be carried over against the curved face of the finger t, and thus taper the end of the stack so that only one letter at a time can be engaged by the extreme end of the finger.

.lt wid readily be understood that the machine will operate singly equally as well as double. Such duplex. machines may be worked by one operator, and as the operatire parts are not exposed to more wear than in a single machine it will be very economical and a time and labor saving machine.

\Ve claim-+ 1.. In a postmarking and stamp-canceling machine, a rotatable l'eed member haying a part of its pcriphery composed of a non-triciion' material and a part of its periphery composed of friction material, said parts having the same radius, means to'l'eed a letterstack in a direction transverse to the plane of the letters to present the forward edge of the forward letter to the periphery of said feed member at a. point ot the latter in rear of a diameter drawn at right angles to the plane of the letters in the stack, and a resilient linger mounted at said point,- capable of a movement to and from the periphery of the feed Inember'without coming into contact with the latter.

'2. In a postmarking and stamp-canceling machine, a rotatable l'eed member, a stamping clement mounted on the same shalt as the said teed member but inanother axial plane, means to present the forward edge of a seems letter to said feed member, and a-resilient fingermounted so as to be ca able of a movement to and from the perip cry of the feed member without coming into contact with the latter. e

3. In a postmarking and stamp-canceling machine, a rotatable feed member having part of its periphery composed of a non-friction material and part of its periphery composed of friction material, means to feed a letter-stack in a direction transverse to the plane of the letters to present the forward edge of the forward letter directly to the p'e.- riphery of the said feed member at a point of the latter in rear of a diameter drawn at right angles to the plane of the letters in the stack, and means to taper the end of the stack adjacent to the feed member.

4. In a postmarking and stamp-canceling machine, a rotatable feed member composed of two parallel disks placed on the same shaft, said disks having part of their periphery composed of a non-friction material and part of their periphery composed'of friction material, a stamping element mounted on the same shaft as the said feed member between the said disks, and means to present the forward edge of a letter to said feed member.

5. In-a postmarking and canceling machine, a feed member composed of two disks imounted on a shaft at a certain distance from each other, a free roller in cooperation with each of said disks and means to .press the free roller yieldingly against the periphcry of the said disks, a stamping member mounted on the same shaft as the said disks between the latter, two free rollersin .cooperation with the stamping member, said free rollers having parallel axesand means to hold said rollers at a certain distance from the face of the stamping element and exert a yielding resistance when pressed outwardly.

6. In a postmarking and canceling machine, the combination with a rotary stamping member and an inking device, of means to press a letter in contact with the stampingface, said means consisting of two resilient rollers having parallel-axes, and means to hold the rollers at a certain distance from the face ofthe stamping member. a

7. A duplex postmarking and stamp-canceling machine having one rotating feed member, one rotating stamping 'member, two sets of free rollers at two opposite points of the rotating feed member and two assembling screws.

8. In a pos tmarking and stamp-canceling machine, a rotatable member composed ofa plurality of recessed parallel disks composed of anon-frictional material, a frictional portion adjustably mounted in said recess, and

stamping elements carried by the adjustable portion.

9. In a duplex po'stmarking and stampcancelmg machine, a rotatmg feed member,

, slots.

and means adapted to present letters at diametrically opposite points of the feed member.

10. In a duplex postmarking and stamp canceling machine, a rotating member, means adapted to present letters at diametrically opposite points of the rotating member, and a gripping device carried by the rotating member adapted to consecutively engage letters at the different points.

11. In a duplex postmarking and stamp canceling machine, a rotating member, feedtroughs adapted to present letters at different points of the rotating member, gripping devices on the latter, and a stamping mem ber carried by the rotating member.

12. In a duplex postmarking and stampcanceling machine, a rotating teed member, feed-troughs adapted to present letters at diiferent points of the latter, a stamping member on the feed member, pressure-rolls adapted to cooperate with the. stamping member at different points of the feed member. ,p

13. In a duplex postmarkingand stampcanceling machine, a rotating feed member, feed-troughs adapted to present letters at different points of the feed member, a stamping member on the latter, pressure device's adapted .to cocperate with tne stamping 9 member at different points of the feed member, and pressure-disks adapted to cooperate with the feed member at different points thereof.

14. In a duplex postmarking and stampcanceling machine, a rotating teed member, feed-tr0ughs adapted to present letters at different points of the feed member, a stamping member on the latter, means at different points of the feed member to ink: the stamping member, pressure-rolls adapted to cooperate with the stamping member at different points of the feed member, and pressure disks adapted to cooperate with the latterat different points.

15. In a postmarking and stamp-canceling machine, a rotatable shaft, a plurality of recessed parallel disks mounted thereon having non-frictional peripheries, a plate having a frictional periphery mounted in the recessed portion of each disk, means for connecting said plates, means to adjust the latter in the recesses and a stamping member mounted on the plates. x

16. In a postmarking and stamp-canceling machine, a rotatable shaft, a roller mounted thereon, a disk having a recess formed in its peripherymountod on each side of the roller,

a plate adjustabl y mounted in said recess, a

disk pivoted eccontrically on the shaft having an arcuate slot therein, and a connecting member for the plates progecting through the 1 7. In a postmarkingand stampranceling machine, a rotatable shaft, a roller mounted thereon, having seats formed therein, a disk mounted on each side of the roller and having a recess registering with the seats, plates adjustable in the recesses, a disk pivoted eccentrically on the shaft having an arcuate slot therein, a bolt connecting. the plates projecting through the slot, and a stamping-die mounted between the plates.

18. In a postmerking and stamp-canceling machine, the combination with a feedway and the guide-Wall thereof, of a roller having its peripherv/projecting in rear of the guidewall, a non-frictional member on said roller to arrest the passage of the letters in one direction, a frictional member to grip and carry the letters at right angles to their path of travel in the feedway and a stamping member carried by the roller.

19. In a postmarking and stamp-canceling i machine, the combination with a feedway, of a rotatable feed member at the delivery end of the latter having a non-frictional portion to arrest the passage of the letters in one direction and a frictional portion to grip and carry the letters at right angles to their path of travel in the feedway, and a resilientlymounted finger cooperating with said feed member.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention we have signed our names in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

NILS AALL KRAG. GUSTAV ADOLF HANSEN.

Witnesses: I

HENRY BORDENWIQH, MICHAEL ALGER. 

